Fadrique de Toledo, 1st Marquess of Valdueza facts for kids
Fadrique de Toledo was a brave Spanish nobleman and a top admiral. He was born in Naples, Italy, on May 30, 1580. His full name was Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Mendoza, and he was also the 1st Marquess of Valdueza.
He became a Knight of the Order of Santiago, a special group of knights. By the age of 37, he was named Captain General of the Spanish Navy. This meant he was in charge of many ships and sailors. He was known for his important victories at sea. Fadrique de Toledo passed away in Madrid, Spain, on December 11, 1634.
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A Life at Sea
Fadrique was the son of Pedro de Toledo Osorio, 5th Marquess of Villafranca. His father was a commander in the Spanish Army in Naples. Fadrique followed in his father's footsteps. He joined the Spanish fleet and quickly moved up the ranks. In 1617, he became the Captain General of the Ocean Sea Navy. This was a very important job. He took over from Admiral Luis Fajardo.
Big Victories at Sea
Fadrique de Toledo won many battles against the Dutch. In 1621, he had a victory near Gibraltar. In 1623, he won another battle in the English Channel. He even blocked the Dutch coast, stopping their ships. In the same year, he stopped a Moorish attack near Gibraltar.
Because of all his victories, he was given a special title. On January 17, 1624, he became the Marquess of Villanueva de Valdueza.
Reclaiming Salvador da Bahia
In 1625, Fadrique was given another big role. He was made General of Portugal (which was then connected to Spain). He also became Captain General of the Army of Brazil. He sailed to Brazil with a huge fleet. It had 34 Spanish ships, 22 Portuguese ships, and 12,566 men.
On April 30, 1625, he reconquered the important city of Salvador da Bahia from the Dutch. This victory was very important for Spain and Portugal. It helped them push the Dutch out of Brazil over the next 20 years.
Expelling Settlers from Islands
In 1629, Fadrique led another Spanish expedition. This time, he went to the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis. He expelled the English and French settlers who had built colonies there.
Family Life
On August 12, 1627, Fadrique married his cousin, Doña Elvira Ponce de León, in Madrid.
They had three children:
- Doña Elvira de Toledo, who married Don Juan Gaspar Enríquez de Cabrera.
- Doña Victoria de Toledo, who married her cousin Don Francisco Ponce de León.
- Don Fadrique Alvarez de Toledo y Ponce de León, who became the 2nd Marquess of Valdueza.
Fadrique also had two other children:
- Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, who became an Abbot.
- Íñigo de Toledo, who married Leonor de Velasco.
See also
In Spanish: Fadrique de Toledo Osorio (1580-1634) para niños
